Relation between the Time of Reproduction of the Sea Urchins
Strongylocentrotus intermedius and the Water Temperature
of the Northern Primore Coast

G. I. Viktorovskaya and V. I. Matveev

Pacific Research Center for Marine Fisheries, Vladivostok, Russia

Received March 16, 1998; in final form, April 5, 1999

Abstract—Based on an analysis of the differences in the temperature regime and in the duration of the period
with negative temperatures, the coastal zone of the northern Primor’e is divided into three parts, namely, the
southern (Cape Povorotnyi–Olga Bay), intermediate (Olga Bay–Cape Belkin), and northern (Cape Belkin–
Cape Zolotoi) ones. It is shown that in various parts of the northern Primor’e, there are essential differences in
the gray sea urchin reproduction due to the influence of the temperature on it. Populations of the sea urchins
inhabiting the northern and southern parts of the area of distribution differ in the temperature intervals of spawn-
ing (12–16 and 16–20°C) and in the total heat required for development of gametes (1100–1250 and 1450–
1500degree-days). It is suggested that the sea urchins living off the southern and northern Primor’e coasts rep-
resent different temperature-reproductive races.

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